Bio

In his early 20's (James) Flournoy Holmes visually defined the Southern Rock phenomenon of the early 1970's creating notable album covers and art work for bands like The Allman Brothers, Marshall Tucker, Wet Willie, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Charlie Daniels, Outlaws, Sea Level, Hank Williams Jr, Kansas and many others. His mushroom images exploded upon the world music scene and along with the peach have become international icons. The inside cover of The Allman Brothers "Eat A Peach" (which Duane Allman and Flournoy named) is one of the ultimate psychedelic art experiences in album cover art. Georgia Peach Growers Association said Flournoy's imagery has helped to bring the Georgia Peach to national prominence. He also created works at that time for groups such as Dr. John, Bruce Springsteen, Ted Nugent, Aerosmith, Carol King. His creative, influential and iconic images are still being used today after 40 years. His work is internationally recognized, in part through the medium of album covers. he has produced countless album covers and posters and in most cases the cover art is synonymous with the music itself. Flournoy epitomizes the creative force, as a multi- disciplined artist and continues to pursue painting, photograph, film making and music.

"Voted Top 100 Album Covers of All Time" ...

Rolling Stone Magazine

Growing up in the piedmont of South Carolina, Spartanburg, the son of two artistically inclined parents (his father was a musician and his mother a ceramics teacher). Childhood was spent mostly outdoors exploring nature and collecting insects, which continues to influence his work. In junior high school, drawing college mascots on sweat shirts for friends, winning the Women's Bazaar poster contest and creating the schools logo, encouraged him to continue his artistic path. He received the prestigious Eagle Scout Award at twelve years of age, (one of the youngest recipients in the country) saved seventeen children from drowning (as a lifeguard in high school). Attending the University of Georgia on a full art scholarship he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in drawing and painting then formed Wonder Graphics. He studied under the painter James Herbert (who would later direct music videos for the band REM), interned with sculptor Donald Judd (New York City) and studied with surrealist painter Mati Klarwein, whose work was featured on album covers for Santana, Miles Davis and others. He, as he says, "made it through the 60's", went to Woodstock Music Festival and after college traveled (hitch hiking) extensively overseas.

"A crash-course in the mystical underbelly of the respectable South"

-Virginia Warren Smith, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Georgia Museum of Art, Installation

Flournoy is a Grammy Finalist Winner (NARAS, Paul Davis), several time Grammy Nominee and his work is in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (Ohio). He has received numerous awards and grants, including National Endowment for the Arts grant. His art is in private and corporate collections, shown in museums and galleries and has appeared on cds, books, posters and movies. His 1980 album cover for Christopher Cross (a Grammy winner and multi-platinum seller) was credited for the resurgence of the pink flamingo yard art craze of the eighties.

"I bought the record for the art... and kept it for the music" ...

-Jay Babcock, LA Weekly

He curated the nation art exhibitions Art of the Grateful Dead and Four Decades of Rock Photography and The Museum of Modern Art (New York) acquired his artist book. Flournoy was selected to create the posters for The Smithsonian Institute Tibet Sand Mandala Show also Habitat for Humanity and the Dalai Lama's visit to the United States.

"The best cover since Earl Hines" ...

P. J. O'Rourke, Crawdaddy Magazine

When asked about a favorite album cover experience Flournoy sites the time he flew to France to photograph Moon Martin for his album cover (Moon was very popular in France), "We ended up lost in the underground of Paris with 3 Hindu boys, an albino mule, 2 dancers from the Moulin Rouge, a goose and a broken camera lens ... very entertaining" he said.

"Musical imagination, his album covers set the standard" ...

Bo Emerson, Atlanta Journal- Constitution

His love for photography started at an early age and over the years he has photographed many recording artist from Al Green, the Eagles, Willie Nelson to Miles Davis, Leon Russell and Sting. He is always photographing subjects of a more personal nature.

"His Art pushes the edge of my reality" ...

Dr. John, The Night Tripper

Involved in the making of films, he won the Stony Award for Best Documentary of 2006, for co-directing the feature length film Dreadheads. The female Buddha in Tibetan Mysticism (filmed in Tibet and Nepal) and Zambiland, a zany concert starring jam band all stars hosted by Col. Bruce Hampton and Jeff Sipe are also film projects in the works.

"Georgia's Music Elite" ...

Atlanta Magazine

As a musician he has released his own music and works with sound in a shamanic context, as a healing modality and in ceremony. He has produced and played on many musical projects and soundtracks and his new group Flying Mystics just released their fourth cd. One of the Flying Mystics YouTube videos is over 300,000. views and they are currently playing live shows.